HETAUDA: The Bagmati Province government has initiated plans to reduce the number of ministries from 14 to seven, in line with its efforts to cut costs and promote fiscal discipline.

A few days ago, the province’s main opposition party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), submitted a memorandum urging the government to reduce the number of ministries.

Following this, a joint meeting of the ruling Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) provincial parliamentary parties reached a consensus on the ministry reduction.

The government has since begun laying the groundwork to implement the plan. “After the ruling parties reached a theoretical agreement on reducing ministries, we have formed a committee to study the issue,” said Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya.

“The committee is examining how many ministries should be reduced, which ones to retain, how to reorganize others, and how to manage staff.”

Baniya added that with political parties in agreement, the process to arrive at a concrete decision has already started.

“Cost-cutting and good governance remain our top priorities. We are consulting with parties on ministry and structural issues to develop a shared understanding and reach a rational conclusion,” he said.

He further emphasized, “Our focus is not only on reducing the number of ministries but also on effective management. In the first phase, we will secure party consensus, and then, based on expert advice, finalize the reduction and reorganization.

This measure is purely administrative and linked to financial discipline, and it will be implemented in accordance with political agreement.”